Naturalization; application for the granting of German citizenship to foreigners entitled to naturalization (naturalization claim)

A foreigner living in Germany is entitled to naturalization under certain conditions.

Naturalization is the granting of German citizenship to a foreigner. It must be applied for and is carried out by issuing a special naturalization certificate.

A foreigner whose identity and citizenship have been established and who has been legally resident in Germany for five years must be naturalized upon application. Residence is lawful if the foreigner is in Germany as an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement or as another foreigner with the permission of the foreigners authority (e.g. with a settlement permit). Residence is habitual or permanent if the foreigner is willing to live in Germany permanently and permanent residence is made possible.

In principle, there is no entitlement to naturalization if the foreigner

• is not committed to the free democratic basic order of the Federal Republic of Germany and Germany's special historical responsibility;
• does not have sufficient knowledge of the German language;
• has no knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany, unless the person concerned is a former guest worker or contract worker of the former GDR or their spouse who joined them at the same time;
• has been convicted of a criminal offense;
• is engaged in anti-constitutional activities;
• is married to more than one spouse at the same time or shows by his/her behavior that he/she disregards the equal rights of men and women laid down in the Basic Law.

The district offices and municipal administrations of the independent cities decide on naturalization applications.

• Citizenship application

  Pre-printed forms are available from the district administration authority.

• Passport
• Demonstration of knowledge of the legal and social order and the living conditions in Germany through presentation of a certificate of successful citizenship test completion or a certificate of graduation from a German academic secondary school
• Proof of sufficient oral and written German language skills (school reports, certificates, etc.)
• Supporting documents proving the foreign national's income, retirement provisions, medical insurance and long-term care insurance, also for his or her dependents, where applicable
• Upon reasoned request by the competent authority, proof of marital status (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, divorce decree if applicable)
• If necessary, you may be required to present the following. Foreign official deeds and documents need to be translated.

You are entitled to naturalization if the following requirements are met:

• clarified identity
• permanent right of residence at the time of naturalization
• proof of knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany. This proof is not required for former guest workers or contract workers of the former GDR and their spouses who have joined them in the same period.
• have been legally resident in Germany for five years
• independent means of subsistence (also for dependent family members) without social assistance and unemployment benefit II. Exceptions apply to persons who have been in full-time employment for at least 20 months in the last 2 years, spouses if they are looking after a minor child in a family relationship and former guest workers or contract workers from the former GDR and their spouses who joined them in the same period.
• Proof of sufficient oral and written knowledge of German: https://www.stmi.bayern.de/media/_bayernportal/positivliste-stmi-2024.docx. In the case of former guest workers or contract workers from the former GDR and their spouses who have joined them in the meantime, it is sufficient if they can make themselves understood orally in German without any significant problems in everyday life.
• No conviction for a criminal offense
• Commitment to the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany and to Germany's special historical responsibility
• no polygamy and no evidence of disregard for equal rights for men and women

If one of these requirements is not met, you are not entitled to naturalization. However, so-called discretionary naturalization is possible in certain cases (see "Related topics").

In principle: 255.00 euros

Minor children without their own income who are naturalized together with their parents: 51.00 euros

Additional costs may arise

• for the submission of civil status certificates
• for proof of civic knowledge or language skills
• for translations of foreign documents by sworn translators and certification fees